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The episodes make television fun to watch, and they constantly and consistently recontextualize the great work the cast and crew put into production. There are memorable moments that can enhance the series and a casual glimpse into a show you haven’t seen in a long time. At its best, television is a powerful force that can move your entire being and change the way you look at different things.

It’s 2024, but there’s still time to celebrate the best TV episodes of this year. And unique and unforgettable episodes too! This list definitely has it all.

Succession Episode 3, Season 3

Some episodes tend to catch viewers off guard, like a game of Jili. The genius of this episode is that it assures the audience that there will be an exciting twist in the series. The genius is hidden in the batter of the wedding cake of the Roy patriarch’s least-loved child. Succession is known for the way it wraps twists in major social events. The cast is at its largest here – especially Kieran Culkin, Jeremy Strong and Sarah Snook, who go from blissful social hypocrisy to absolute devastation in the blink of an eye. The grief that overcomes them is a massive whirlwind, and makes them sympathetic people despite their unsavory qualities.

Beef, Episode 10, Season 1: Rays of Light

It was never planned for an argument to end happily. And it would inevitably end badly. The series seals its role as an allegory about love and hate on the side of obsession and the anger and destruction that unresolved trauma can cause. Amy Lau (Ali Wong) and Danny Cho (Steven Yeun) crash a car and are left stranded. They try to survive in a desert limbo without food and feed on dangerous berries that put them in a state where both of them are hallucinogenic.

Episode 10 is a cathartic and devastating conclusion to this series. Amy’s hostility towards Danny has nothing to do with Danny at all. Instead, she is content with her life, while Danny sees Amy as a convenient way to vent his frustrations.

Abbott Elementary, Episode 16, Season 2

The best episodes of Abbott Elementary are about something other than the plot. Instead, they’re about the hidden depths of the characters we’ve come to know and love! This episode takes place over a weekend at a professional conference in Allentown. Barbara and Melissa are obsessed with math Rita, while Jacob encounters over-the-top white saviors who want to dedicate their lives to teaching children of color.

But a nasty surprise is the drunken kiss that Gregory gives Janine – and which she returns. Gregory had been abandoned. Janine, meanwhile, was upset about a classroom made of flowers. This event will haunt the story – for better or for worse.

The Bear Season 2, Episode 10

The pace of The Bear is undoubtedly rich in cooking imagery. You can dial it up from “grilling” to the 900 degrees of a pizza oven. Season 1 is marked by a sense of uncertainty and intensity, with some bravura tracking. The rhythm of frenetic energy characterizes much of the show. However, the main source of the frenetic energy in this show is none other than the main character, and things keep going without her. The food in The Bear might draw you in front of the screen.

The main course, however, is the conversation – and the icing on the cake.

Never Have I Ever, Season 4, Episode 10

After four seasons, the indomitable Devi Vishwakumar graduates from high school and adolescence with considerable personal growth. The series first aired in 2020 and follows her exploits and how she deals with the grief of her father’s recent death. Devi spends her last summer before graduation away from her crush Ben (Jaren Lewison) and ex-boyfriend Paxton (Darren Barnet), goes to college, then returns as an assistant swim coach. Nalini, Devi’s mother (Poorna Jagannathan) and Nirmala (Ranjita Chakravarty) get their second chance at romance.

This is a heartfelt farewell to Devi and her memories of high school. It’s also a series that launched several careers, a bastion of South Asian representation, and a teen romantic comedy about intense love and even harder fighting.

Packing

We’ve compiled five of the best TV series episodes of 2023. Some of them are wonderful farewell letters to iconic characters and stories, others continue a story and follow the series.